My Dad Has Gone Home, Back to Work.

I'm pleased to report that my dad survived his time in Azerbaijan and has returned safely to the US!  He was in my village for 5 nights, even though upon arrival he said to me "Jessie, I give this 2 nights and I'm out."  See what he will put up with for me?  He slept on the floor (I offered my bed but it was too saggy for him, I really wish I had taken a video of him getting out of it when he would get up from reading in it, the effort that it took was hilarious) and used my squat toilet/hole in the ground and he kept a smile on his face the whole time!  I was very proud.  After the village we went to Şəki and Qax regions to see the mountains and my friend Lori, the self-proclaimed "Qax Star."  Unfortunately, as soon as we arrived in Şəki we got news that my dad's father died back in America.  He had been ill and we knew he wasn't doing very well, but the news was still really hard obviously.  I was again really proud of my dad for being strong enough to finish the trip.  He went home on Saturday and I came back up to site to start school again on Monday.  Only 2 more months until summer!  And summer means that Kimmy is going to come visit me!  And maybe Naima and Little Jimmy? Who else wants to come visit so I will have excuses to not work all summer??? haha (only kidding, I'm really looking forward to doing some awesome summer camps with my kids!)

 

Dad and Me in Qax

Jim Farrell Has Arrived in Azerbaijan!

Some (me) thought it wasn't going to be possible, but amazingly enough, I am pleased to report my dad's safe arrival in Azerbaijan!  After his visa failed to come in time for his initial flight, and then again failed to come on Monday, I have to admit that I lost all hope of it arriving in time for his Tuesday flight.  I knew that we had given the embassy like 6 weeks to get the visa, which should have been more than enough, but it just didn't seem possible.  But lo and behold, it made it Tuesday afternoon!

His plane got in a little ahead of schedule last night and I braved the all-male airport (as in there were only males there and everyone was staring at me and it was really uncomfortable, not as in I was not allowed there as a female) to get him.  Then today I took him to see the rock carvings at Qobustan and the mud volcanoes outside of Baku before we went to visit with my host family from training.  And now we are back at the hotel resting up (and by that I mean he is resting up, snoring away while I write this) before our long ride up to Tovuz in the morning!! Get ready Qədirli, here he comes!!

At the mud volcanoes